E61 Handle won't open tailgate

E61 Handle won't open tailgate

Author
Discussion

5STM5

Original Poster:

303 posts

149 months

Wednesday 21st June 2017
quotequote all
I have always unlocked the car and used the tailgate handle to open the tailgate.
At the weekend a third party tried a different approach while putting goods in my car.
Car was locked and they pressed the tailgate opening button on the key fob several times, it didn't open. I unlocked the car and tried to open as normal with the handle with no success, I then pressed the unlock button on the key fob and opened the tailgate.
I can now only open the tailgate using the key fob button or the button in the drivers footwell.
I don't believe this is a wiring problem, but something to do with the way the key fob was used. I tried the spare key fob, but no difference.
Any ideas?

5STM5

Original Poster:

303 posts

149 months

Thursday 22nd June 2017
quotequote all
5STM5 said:
I have always unlocked the car and used the tailgate handle to open the tailgate.
At the weekend a third party tried a different approach while putting goods in my car.
Car was locked and they pressed the tailgate opening button on the key fob several times, it didn't open. I unlocked the car and tried to open as normal with the handle with no success, I then pressed the unlock button on the key fob and opened the tailgate.
I can now only open the tailgate using the key fob button or the button in the drivers footwell.
I don't believe this is a wiring problem, but something to do with the way the key fob was used. I tried the spare key fob, but no difference.
Any ideas?

RichS1963

41 posts

128 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
quotequote all
I’ve got exactly the same problem. Handle won’t open the tailgate. Key fob works. With the boot open, I removed the handle from the body to check the micro switch. When pressing the panel, the release mechanism works! If I manually move the lock to ‘locked’, with the boot open, the handle unlocks it, but with the boot closed, the handle won’t operate!

Any ideas?

cossy400

3,161 posts

184 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
quotequote all
RichS1963 said:
I’ve got exactly the same problem. Handle won’t open the tailgate. Key fob works. With the boot open, I removed the handle from the body to check the micro switch. When pressing the panel, the release mechanism works! If I manually move the lock to ‘locked’, with the boot open, the handle unlocks it, but with the boot closed, the handle won’t operate!

Any ideas?
It ll be the wires have rubbed through where they go from the boot to the roof.

Theres kits on ebay.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/e60e61DriversClubU...



Couple of groups on facebook and its quite documented on there too.

Sardonicus

18,961 posts

221 months

Saturday 14th December 2019
quotequote all
This ^ very common fault on this model

RichS1963

41 posts

128 months

Monday 6th January 2020
quotequote all
Replaced all the wires a year or so ago.
To reiterate, when the tailgate is open, if you press the handle, the micro switch works and the catch releases. But when the boot is closed, the handle doesn’t work and the remote key fob is the only way to open the tailgate.
I’ve tried replacing the handle to see if that was the cause but it makes no difference.
Any suggestions?